Bullpen Report: September 12, 2020

The 2020 version of Bullpen Report includes six different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News 
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.
6. Reliever On The Rise: Non-closer who is quickly moving up the depth chart based on potential and recent performance.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save.)

Notable Workloads

•Daniel Hudson, WSN: 28 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Tanner Rainey is a likely candidate for a save chance on Saturday.

 

Injury News

•Giovanny Gallegos, STL: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained groin). | RosterResource

As many expected to happen, Gallegos had separated himself from the committee and appeared to have become the Cardinals’ primary closer. But for at least the next ten days, they’ll have to go in a different direction. Andrew Miller is the most likely option, although John Gant, Ryan Helsley, and Alex Reyes could also be in the mix.

•Ken Giles, TOR: Activated from 10-Day IL. | RosterResource

In his first game back after missing a month-and-a-half with an elbow injury, Giles pitched the eighth inning with the Blue Jays trailing 16-1 versus the Mets. He allowed a leadoff homer to Wilson Ramos, but struck out two batters in his one inning of work. His fastball ranged from 93-95 MPH, which is around where he was in his first two appearances of this season but down from the 97 MPH he averaged in 2019.

Even if his velocity doesn’t ramp up, his stuff is still plenty good enough to get hitters out. As long as he’s healthy, there’s a chance he’ll be closing out games by season’s end.

•Sean Doolittle, WSN: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained oblique). | RosterResource

There’s a good chance that the 33-year-old Doolittle’s season is over, as well as his tenure with the Nats — he’ll be a free agent this upcoming offseason — which includes 75 saves and a World Series ring since his acquisition in July 2017.

 

Outlier Saves

•Yimi García, MIA | RosterResource

Between Garcia’s 2020 performance (8.2 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 10 K coming into Friday’s game) and back-to-back blown saves by Kintzler, it wasn’t a major surprise that they flipped roles on Friday. Kintzler pitched a scoreless sixth inning with the Marlins leading 5-2 versus the Phillies in game two of the double-header. He was followed by Garcia, who allowed his first run of the season but closed things out for his first save. So, Garcia is the new closer? Not quite.

Don Mattingly says that Brandon Kintzler pitched the 6th instead of the 7th because of a finger nail issue he was dealing with

— Alex Krutchik (@AlexKrutchikFOF) September 12, 2020

Kintzler has a 3.31 ERA with nine saves in 11 chances, so a demotion would’ve been at least a bit unexpected. As things stand, it sounds like he’s still the Marlins’ closer. But if the finger nail issue lingers, Garcia could continue to get save chances.

•Erasmo Ramírez, NYM | RosterResource

After a stellar Mets’ debut when he allowed just one run in five innings of relief on Monday, Ramirez followed up with three scoreless innings to close out an 18-1 win on Friday for his third career MLB save.

 

Committee Clarity

•Stefan Crichton and Kevin Ginkel, ARI | RosterResource

The closer committee that was expected once Archie Bradley was traded never quite materialized as Ginkel was the clear choice of manager Torey Lovullo. He blew his first chance, however, and then was optioned after struggling in Thursday’s loss to the Dodgers.

It didn’t take long to find out who was next in line, though, as Crichton was called on with a 4-3 lead and one out in the ninth of Friday’s game versus the Mariners. The 28-year-old retired both hitters he faced, including one strikeout, to pick up his first career MLB save. In all likelihood, he’ll continue to get a chance to close out games until he fails. In two seasons with Arizona, he has a 3.29 ERA with 17 walks and 55 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched.

 

Losing A Grip

•Ty Buttrey, LAA | RosterResource

Last time Buttrey ended up in this section, manager Joe Maddon announced soon after that Felix Peña and Buttrey would be co-closers. Peña followed with his two worst outings of the season while the 27-year-old Buttrey had three consecutive scoreless outings with six strikeouts.

So, when the Angels took a 4-3 lead against the Rockies in the top of the ninth inning in Friday’s game, Buttrey was back out there for another save chance. He did not do well. After retiring Matt Kemp to start the inning, he allowed a game-tying homer to Ryan McMahon. Josh Fuentes followed with a double and Daniel Murphy was intentionally walked before Buttrey was replaced by José Quijada. Two batters later, Charlie Blackmon hit a walkoff grand slam.

In the meantime, Mike Mayers continues to roll along. He retired all four batters he faced on Friday and now has a 2.60 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched. The 28-year-old should be in the mix for saves any day now.

•Daniel Hudson, WSN | RosterResource

Even if Hudson hadn’t blown his fourth save of the season on Friday and had his ERA increase to 7.02 — he allowed three runs to score after retiring the first two batters of the ninth inning — it’s probably a good time to see what Rainey can do as the closer.

The 33-year-old Hudson’s numbers are a bit deceiving. He has not allowed a run in 12 of his 17 appearances. But the Nats probably can’t go into 2021 with him as their closer. They have to at least have a backup plan, which could be Rainey if he shows that he can get the job done over the team’s last 17 games of the season. He needs to be given an opportunity, though.

 

Reliever On The Rise

Early in the season, picking out a “Reliever On The Rise” was a simple task with several options to choose from each day. Not so much over the last few weeks, though. Most of the breakout relievers have already been identified. As a result, this section will highlight a pitcher or two only once per week through the end of the season.